Cage Coatings

[Surfincr]

So i've done a bit of reading on this and well there doesnt seem to be a great answer either way. I picked up a large cage that was in someones basement and rusted out in a few places. i've already cut the metal out and will be welding in fresh metal. i'll be sandblasting/wire brushing the cage down but when it comes time to coat it i'm stuck. i've read multiple sites saying powder coating is the way to go and others saying spray paint is the way to go. But most of the articles i found were over a year old. I have a powder coater and access to an oven large enough to go that route and i also have a professional paint system to do a industrial paint coating (with bird safe paint of course). So my question is which would be the best way to go?

 

[Dopey]

I don't have any answers for you but I am in awe that you have already done that much work and have access to all of that equipment. I hope someone can answer your question.

 

[Kiwibird]

Bird safe powder coat is the ONLY way to go on a cage IMO. Paint may CLAIM to be safe, but I wouldn't risk it.

 

[getwozzy]

If you have the ability to powder coat it- go that route...much safer IMHO --birds like to rub their beaks up and down the bars, chew on them, pick at every little imperfection, etc and if it's spray painted they could easily ruin the paint job as well as create a health risk. Some say that there are spray paints that could work, but I (personally) would prefer powder coating.

 

[weco]

With your access to equipment & supplies, powder coating is a much harder & durable finish, as long as the cage is properly prepped, so have to throw my lot in with the ladies here ! ! !

Once cured, all paints are safe, unless the birds find a flaking area and ingest the flakes, but that danger is true even of a bad powder coat job.....only larger rust flakes or a rusted area that has attracted a bird's chewing/licking attention.....

Good luck.....

 

[Surfincr]

Thank you everyone. i had a feeling that would be the best way to go but wanted to double check. The benefit to doing the powder coating is generally the moisture is cooked out of the metal and sandblasting the metal prior to promotes far better adhesion. So it'd be far less likely to rust.

i actually had originally planned to fabricate a stainless cage however i havent been able to locate a reasonably priced metal dealer.

 

[Kiwibird]

Thank you everyone. i had a feeling that would be the best way to go but wanted to double check. The benefit to doing the powder coating is generally the moisture is cooked out of the metal and sandblasting the metal prior to promotes far better adhesion. So it'd be far less likely to rust.

i actually had originally planned to fabricate a stainless cage however i havent been able to locate a reasonably priced metal dealer.

I recently got a quote for a custom built stainless cage 38X24X60 of $4000.00! Not sure what you're definition of "reasonably priced" is, but stainless is E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E!!!

 

[Surfincr]

I recently got a quote for a custom built stainless cage 38X24X60 of $4000.00! Not sure what you're definition of "reasonably priced" is, but stainless is E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E!!!

what i meant was reasonably priced is when i went to kings cages they have their large stainless cages for 2-3000. for me to build one of the same size the metal alone (from one supplier) was about $2,400 then i would need to still engineer and weld everything so the savings wasnt there.

if i was able to find the metal for say $500 it make it more than worthwhile for me to do. otherwise i can build a lot more cage for cheaper using steel and powder coating. especially since i can get good steel for 1$ a pound.